Cook fan

ABSTRACT

A cook fan to prevent boiling over in a cooking container including a base that allows the cook fan to be placed near the cooking container; a fan attached wherein the fan further comprises a motor and blades attached to the motor; and a connector member attached to the base and the fan, wherein the connector member allows the position of the fan to be adjusted.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cook fan that may be used to preventthe boiling over of a container during cooking. During cooking using aboiling liquid, the liquid may boil up and spill over the side of thecooking container. For example, when cooking pasta, water is boiled, thepasta is added, and then the combination is returned to boiling. Duringthe cooking of the pasta is common for the bubbles to build up causingthe boiling water to spill over the side. This creates safety issues inthat on a gas stove it can put out the flame, allowing the natural gasto flow unchecked until it reaches an ignition source. Once at anignition source the natural gas can cause an explosion. On an electricstove the spilt liquid and food may accumulate on the burner and catchon fire. Further, the overflow must be cleaned up after cooking. Analternative is for the cook to continuously monitor the cooking process,which is undesirable. Also, a much larger container than is necessarymay be used, but this takes up unnecessary space, which is undesirable.Therefore there remains a need for a way to safely cook by boilingwithout boiling over.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to cook fan thatsubstantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitationsand disadvantages of the related art.

An advantage of the present invention is to provide a cook fan toprevent boiling over in a cooking container.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Theadvantages of the invention will be realized and attained by thestructure particularly pointed out in the written description and claimshereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposeof the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, a cook fanfor preventing boiling over in a cooking container includes a base thatallows the cook fan to be placed near the cooking container; a fanattached wherein the fan further comprises a motor and blades attachedto the motor; and a connector member attached to the base and the fan,wherein the connector member allows the position of the fan to beadjusted.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of cooking usingboiling and a cook fan includes a placing a cooking liquid in a cookingcontainer; heating the cooking container; blowing air over a surface ofthe cooking liquid using a cook fan; adding food to be cooked to thecooking liquid.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and areintended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a front and side view of one embodiment of a cook fanaccording to the present invention;

FIGS. 2-4 illustrate other embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a battery operated embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention with anelectric cord for powering the cook fan.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to an embodiment of the presentinvention, examples of which is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

FIG. 1 shows a front and side view of one embodiment of a cook fan 10according to the present invention. This embodiment of the cook fan 10has a heavy base 20, a support 30, and a fan assembly 40 that includes amotor 50, fan blades 60, and protective cage 70. The heavy base 20 maybe designed to be heavy enough to securely hold the cook fan 10 uprightand in place. Preferably the heavy base is made of a heat resistantmaterial, because the heavy base 20 may be situated near the heat sourceused for cooking. The support 30 attaches to the heavy base 20 and thefan assembly 40. The support 30 supports the fan assembly 40 so that itmay be positioned to blow air over a cooking container. The support 30may have a latch 80 that fits into holes 90 that allows the height ofthe fan to be adjusted up and down so that it may be optimallypositioned with respect to the cooking container. In the fan assembly40, a motor 50 rotates fan blades 60 that are inside a protective cage70. The rotating fan blades 60 blow air over the cooking container. Thisblowing air prevents the cooking container from boiling over when thecooking liquid begins to boil.

FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. As shownin FIG. 2, the cook fan 10 has an adjustable support 30, that bends andis secured at an angle. This allows the cook fan 10 to be adjusted sothat it may be optimally positioned with respect to the cookingcontainer.

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.3, the base 20 is magnetic. This allows the base 20 to be securelyplaced on a magnetic metal surface on the stove or near the cookingcontainer. The magnetic attraction between the metal surface and themagnetic base 20 secures the cook fan 10 to the stove preventing the fanfrom tipping over. The magnetic base 20 may also be attached to thecooking container if the cooking container is made of a magneticmaterial. In this case, the magnetic base 20 should be made of amaterial able to withstand the heat and temperature of the cookingcontainer.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.4, the base 20 of the fan is a clip 100. The clip 100 may be attached toa convenient surface near the cooking container. Also, the clip 100 maybe attached to the cooking container itself. In this case, the clip 100is made of a material that can withstand the heat and temperature of thecooking container. Also, the support may be adjusted to allow the angleof the cook fan to be optimally adjusted, so that the air from the fanblows on the surface of the cooking liquid in the cooking container.container. In the fan assembly 40, a motor 50 rotates fan blades 60 thatare inside a protective cage 70. The rotating fan blades 60 blow airover the cooking container. This blowing air prevents the cookingcontainer from boiling over when the cooking liquid begins to boil.

FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. As shownin FIG. 2, the cook fan 10 has an adjustable support 30, that bends andis secured at an angle. This allows the cook fan 10 to be adjusted sothat it may be optimally positioned with respect to the cookingcontainer.

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.3, the base 20 is magnetic. This allows the base 20 to be securelyplaced on a magnetic metal surface on the stove or near the cookingcontainer. The magnetic attraction between the metal surface and themagnetic base 20 secures the cook fan 10 to the stove preventing the fanfrom tipping over. The magnetic base 20 may also be attached to thecooking container if the cooking container is made of a magneticmaterial. In this case, the magnetic base 20 should be made of amaterial able to withstand the heat and temperature of the cookingcontainer.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.4, the base 20 of the fan is a clip 100. The clip 100 may be attached toa convenient surface near the cooking container. Also, the clip 100 maybe attached to the cooking container itself. In this case, the clip 100is made of a material that can withstand the heat and temperature of thecooking container. Also, the support may be adjusted to allow the angleof the cook fan to be optimally adjusted, so that the air from the fanblows on the surface of the cooking liquid in the cooking container.

FIG. 5 illustrates a battery operated embodiment of the presentinvention. The motor 50 is driven by a battery. The battery may bedisposable batteries or rechargeable batteries. The rechargeablebatteries may be externally charged or may be charged directly withinthe motor 50. This embodiment also shows a fan assembly 40 that does nothave a cage 70. Further, the support 30 may be an adjustable goose necksupport as shown in FIG. 5. The shape of the gooseneck support 30 may beadjusted to allow the location and orientation of the cook fan 10 to beadjusted so that it blows air onto the surface of the cooking liquid inthe cooking container. FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment similar to thatin FIG. 5, but it has an electric cord 10 for powering the cook fan. Thecord 10 may supply electricity directly to the motor 50 or may supplyelectricity to charge a rechargeable battery.

The cook fan 10 of the present invention may be used to prevent cookingliquid from boiling over while food is cooked in a cooking container. Asan example, pasta is typically cooked in boiling water. The water isplaced in a cooking container and heated. Once the water is boiling thepasta is added. The after the pasta is added, the cook fan 10 may beturned on to blow air onto or over the surface of the water. Often whenpasta is added to boiling water it foams up, and boils over the side.The air blown by the cook fan across the boiling water prevents theboiling water from boiling over the side of the cooking container.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the base 20 of the cookfan 10 may have a structure that securely slides down over the edge or ahandle of the cooking container. In this case the, the base is made of amaterial to withstand the heat and temperature of the cooking container.Further, the base may have a clamp using a screw mechanism to attach theclamp to the cooking container or a nearby secure structure. Thematerials used for the base and the supports may be able to withstandtemperatures greater than 200° F.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variation can be made in the present invention withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it isintended that the present invention cover the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

1. A cook fan to prevent boiling over in a cooking container comprising:a base that attaches to the cooking container; a fan attached to thebase wherein the fan further comprises a motor and blades attached tothe motor.
 2. The cook fan of claim 1, wherein the base clamps to thecooking container.
 3. The cook fan of claim 2, wherein the base isspring loaded to clamp the cooking container.
 4. The cook fan of claim2, wherein the base clamps to the container using a screw mechanism. 5.The cook fan of claim 1, wherein the base slides onto and engages theedge of the cooking container.
 6. The cook fan of claim 1, wherein thebase is magnetic that magnetically connects the base to a magneticcooking container.
 7. The cook fan of claim 1, wherein the base is madeof a material able to withstand temperatures greater than 200° F.
 8. Thecook fan of claim 1, wherein the fan and the base are attached to allowthe position of the fan to be adjusted.
 9. The cook fan of claim 1,further comprising a goose neck that attaches the fan to the base. 10.The cook fan of claim 1, further comprising a support connecting thebase to the fan, wherein the support includes a latch and holes whereinthe latch is placed in one of the holes to thereby adjust the positionof the fan.
 11. The cook fan of claim 1, further comprising a supportconnecting the base to the fan, wherein the support is adjustable inangle to thereby adjust the position of the fan.
 13. The cook fan ofclaim 1, wherein the fan is battery operated.
 14. The cook fan of claim13, wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery.
 15. The cook fan ofclaim 1, wherein the fan further comprises a cord that provideselectrical power to the fan.
 16. The cook fan of claim 1, wherein thecord supplies power to recharge rechargeable batteries that drive themotor.
 17. A cook fan to prevent boiling over in a cooking containercomprising: a base that allows the cook fan to be placed near thecooking container; a fan attached wherein the fan further comprises amotor and blades attached to the motor; and a connector member attachedto the base and the fan, wherein the connector member allows theposition of the fan to be adjusted.
 18. The cook fan of claim 17,wherein the base is magnetic.
 19. The cook fan of claim 17, wherein thebase is heavy and compact to prevent to fan from tipping over.
 20. Thecook fan of claim 17, wherein the fan is battery operated.
 21. The cookfan of claim 20, wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery.
 22. Thecook fan of claim 17, wherein the fan further comprises a cord thatprovides electrical power to the fan.
 23. The cook fan of claim 17,wherein the cord supplies power to recharge rechargeable batteries thatdrive the motor.
 24. A method of cooking using a boiling liquid and acooking fan comprising: a placing a cooking liquid in a cookingcontainer; heating the cooking container; blowing air over a surface ofthe cooking liquid using a cook fan; adding food to be cooked to thecooking liquid.
 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the cooking liquidis water.
 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the food is pasta.
 27. Themethod of claim 24, wherein the cook fan has a base.
 28. The method ofclaim 27, wherein the base is magnetic.
 29. The method of claim 27,wherein the base is a clamp.
 30. The method of claim 27, wherein thebase attaches to the cooking container.
 31. The method of claim 24,wherein the cook fan is battery operated.